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January 9, 2013

Ferry Crash in NYC Injures at Least 50

A high-speed ferry that collided into a Manhattan dock today left at least 50 people with injuries-CNN says that number of injuries is closer to 85. Two of the victims were critically hurt, with one sustaining a serious head injury from falling down the boat stairs. The vessel had been transporting over 300 commuters. When the crash happened, dozens of them were tossed to the deck, and against walls, windows, and seats.

The ferry accident occurred at around 8:45am as the boat was pulling into the dock. The impact of the crash caused the boat’s hull to rip open. Per a witness who is quoted in a Boston Globe/AP story, a ferry employee had been telling her that the captains of the boat had complained that the vessel was difficult to maneuver.

The ferry is a catamaran that was constructed in 2003 and it was scheduled to undergo a huge mechanical overhaul in mere months. The National Transportation Safety Board sent investigators to the boating accident site.

According to DNAinfo.com New York, Seastreak LLC, the computer ferry company that owns the boat, has a history of boating accidents, bankruptcy, and lawsuits. Per NTSB and the US Coast Guard, in the last decade, the company has had at least 11 incidents involving its vessels, including equipment failure and ships running aground. Also, this particular boat was involved in another dock crash in 2009. In 2010, this ferry crashed into a dock pile.

Massachusetts Boating Accidents
In Massachusetts, please speak to a Boston boating accident law firm if you or someone you love was involved in this type of incident in this state. Common types of boating accidents
• Vessel malfunction • Poor maintenance • Reckless operation • Collision between boats • Dock accidents • Boating accident with a swimmer in the water • Falls overboard • Striking a fixed object in the water • Swamping/flooding • Capsizing • Sinking • Boating Accidents involving personal watercraftsNew York City ferry crash leaves 85 injured, CNN, January 9, 2013